Improvement in wooden soles for boots and shoes



PATENTED 001. 21, 1862.

J. J. JOHNSTON. WOODEN SOLE FOR BOOTS 0R SHOES.

J a m w. W

outer sole together.

the hinge.

U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES J. JonNs'roN, or ALLEGHENY orrY, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT INWOODEN SOLES FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 36,715, dated October 21, 1852.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J AMES J. J OHNSTON, of the city and county of Allegheny, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Wooden Soles for Boots and Shoes; and I do hereby declare that the following afull and exact description there of, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invcntion'eonsists in the use of a detached, compressed, and elastic spring when used in connection with the inner and outer soles of boots and shoes, said soles being made of wood and in two or more parts, the whole being arranged, constructed, and operated in the manner hereinafter de scribed.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a face view of the under side of the outer sole. Fig. 2 is a face view of the back part of the outer sole. Fig. 3 is a face view of the front part of the outer sole. Fig. 4 is a cut or seetionalview (lengthwise) of theinner sole. Fig. 5 is a cut or sectional view (lengthwise) of the outer sole. Fig. Gis a cut or sectional view (lengthwise) of the inner and outer sole, and represents my arrangement of the compressed, detached, and elastic spring, and the hinge which holds the front and back part of the Fig. 7 is a top view of Fig. 8 is a cut or sectional view of Fig. 9 is a cut or sectional view Fig. 10 is a top view of the the hinge.

of the spring. spring.

The soles should be made of good, clear, hard wood, with its grain running in an oblique line lengthwise of the sole, as indicated by the red line marked 0. The inner (insole) sole is made thinner and smaller than the outer sole.

In the accompanying drawings, a isthe heel. b is the shank-of the outersole. c is the front part of the outer sole. dis thefront part of the inner sole, and e is the back part.

f is a recess made in the under side of the inner sole at the joint for the purpose of re ceiving the hinge.

g is a recess made in the upper side of the outer sole for the purpose of receiving the spring which covers and protects the joint h that is to say, it makes the outer sole air and water proof at the joint.

iis the elastic spring, and is made larger than the recess 9, and is compressed into the recess, and there held by the hinge j,which is placed over it and secured to the outer sole by means of screws. The hinge j is made of leather, (but may be made of any other suit able material,) and is furnished with a rib, so, which is placed between the back and front part of the inner sole at the point where they join each other; It will be observed that the detached and elastic spring is made larger than the recess into which it is compressed, and that by thus compressing it into the recess g,and it not beingattaehed to the sole, the joint It will be kept perfectly air and water proof, and that the compressed and elastic spring (which is made of india-rubber) will cause the sole of the boot or shoe to follow the movements of the foot, imparting to the wooden sole the spring and natural feeling and action of a sole made from leather.

In putting the upper to the soles the inner sole is placed on the 1ast,and the upper-leather is secured to it by pegs or other means common in the process of securing wooden soles on boots or shoes. The outer sole being secured together by means of the hinge z, with the detached elastic spring compressed into the recess it is then secured to inner sole by means of screws or any other suitable means.

It will be observed that by the use of a detached spring it is not liable to be rendered inoperative by becoming torn or broken into two or more parts by the constant straining and stretching of the spring, caused by movements of the foot; and it will also be observed that by the use of the compressed and detached spring the soleof the shoe or boot will always be pressed against the sole of the foot of the wearer, for the compressed and detached spring will cause the front part of the sole of the boot or shoe to spring upward toward the sole of the foot.

I am aware that an elastic hinge perma nently attached to the sole has been used in connection with .wooden soles for boots and shoes. Such device is seen in the patent granted to Alexander Hanvey, May 1, 1860; and I am also aware that hinges have been made of The use of the detached elastic spring i,when

leather, steel, and other material, and usedin used in connection with the hinge j, recess 9, connection with wooden soles for boots and outer sole, 1) c, and inner sole, (1 6, arranged, shoes. I therefore do not claim the hinge. constructed, and operated substantially as Neither do I claim, broadly, the use of the elasherein described, and for the purpose set forth. tic sprin but,

Havingthus described the nature, construc- JAMES JOHNSTON tion, andoperation of my improvement, What XVitnesses: I claim as of myinvention, and desire to secure R. S. LYNCH, by Letters Patent of the United States, is-' A. J. RHEY. 

